51st Annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo | April 20-26th

Once a year Hilo, Hawaii becomes the center of the hula universe during the week-long Merrie Monarch festival. Featuring an internationally acclaimed hula competition, a crafts fair, an art show, hula performances, and a grand parade, it is a celebration like no other. This year’s Merrie Monarch Festival starts on April 20 with a hoʻolauleʻa (celebration) at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Some of the festival events you can expect are live entertainers at Hawaiʻi Naniloa Volcanoes Resort (12 p.m.) and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (1 p.m.), the world renown Miss Aloha Hula Competition (4/24 starting at 5:45p.m. at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium), group hula kahiko (ancient hula) and grouphula ʻauana (modern hula) performances on Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th, respectively. The Miss Aloha Hula Competition, the group hula ʻauana and kahiko will be aired For a list of all festival events, click here.

The festival was originally founded by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce in 1963 and is continued by the private Merrie Monarch Festical community organization. Its purpose: to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and to honor King David Kalākaua the “Merrie Monarch” and his legacy.

Many of the performances, including the entire Miss Aloha Hula Competition, will be aired LIVE on KFVE 5. You can watch the live stream of each of the hula performances by clicking this link.

Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay is excited to be in the center of all the Merrie Monarch festivities and is looking forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world to celebrate Hawaiian culture and arts. Visit the Merrie Monarch website onlinefor more information.